Pivotable doll leg

ABSTRACT

A DOLL LEG WHICH PIVOTS AT THE KNEE BETWEEN TWO ORIENTATIONS, AND WHICH RETAINS EITHER OF THE ORIENTATIONS. THE LEG INCLUDES AN UPPER LEG MEMBER, A LOWER LEG MEMBER PIVOTALLY JOINED TO THE UPPER MEMBER, A PROTUBERANCE AT THE TOP OF THE LOWER MEMBER, AND A LEAF SPRING HAVING AN INNER END MOUNTED ON THE UPPER LEG MEMBER AND AN   OUTER END PORTION EXTENDING TANGENTIAL TO THE PATH TAKEN BY THE PROTUBERANCE AS IT MOVES WHEN THE LOWER LEG MEMBER PIVOTS.

March 2,1971 G. E. BECKER PIVOTABLE DOLL LEG Filed July 31, 1969 UnitedStates Patent O 3,566,534 PIVOTABLE DOLL LEG Gunter E. Becker, 17213Yukon Ave., Apt. H, Torrence, Calif. 90503 Filed July 31, 1969, Ser. No.846,462

Int. Cl. A63h 3/46 US. Cl. 46-163 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This inventionrelates to toys, and more particularly,

to dolls.

(2) Description of the prior art A wide variety of joints have beendeveloped for use in the arms and legs of dolls to enable pivoting atthe elbow or knee in an appendage of a close to natural appearance. Someof the doll appendages must also be capable of retaining the orientationto which they have been pivoted. An example of this is a ballerina dollwhose leg can be manually pivoted between a straight position and aposition where the leg is bent at the knee, and which must retain theposition to which it has been moved. In order to provide a mass marketfor such dolls, the appendages, as well as other parts, must be designedwith a minimum number of simple and easily assembled parts.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present inventionis to provide a doll appendage of a type which can be pivoted betweenand retained in either of two positions, and which is capable of rapidlow cost mass production.

Another object is to provide a sturdy doll leg of natural appearance,which uses a minimum of simple and easily assembled parts.

In accordance with the present invention, a doll appendage is providedwhich has a few simple and easily assembled parts, yet which has anatural appearance and allows pivoting between and retention in eitherof two positions. The appendage includes upper and lower appendagemembers which are pivotally joined. One of the appendage members has aprotuberance and the other has a leaf spring with a portion that extendssubstantially tangentially along the path taken by the protuberance asthe appendage pivots between its two positions.

In one embodiment of the invention, a doll leg is provided which canpivot between a straight and bent position, wherein the upper leg memberhas a hollow bottom for receiving the top of the lower leg member. Thelower leg member has a protuberance at the top. A bent strip of springmaterial has an inner end mounted on the upper leg member, and an outerend portion extending along the path taken by the protuberance as thelower leg member pivots. The inner end of the spring is held in place onthe upper leg member by a pair of elements that engage it on oppositesides to bias it toward a rotational position against the lower legmember, and by a ice third element that abuts the extreme inner end ofthe spring to prevent it from moving away from the lower leg member.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. The invention will best be understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially sectional sideelevation view of a leg constructed in accordance with the invention,showing it in a straight configuration;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the leg in a second,bent configuration;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the leg of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the leg of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the leg of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a legassembly 10 mounted on a doll 12 of a. type which may represent aballerina who can pivot her legs between the substantially straightposition shown in FIG. 1 and a bent position shown in FIG. 2. The legincludes an upper leg member 14 and a lower leg member 16, with its toespointing downwardly to simulate the toe walking nad pirouetting of aballerina. The leg can be manually pivoted between the two positionsshown in the figures, and includes means for retaining the leg in eitherof the two positions to which it has been oriented.

The lower leg 16 has a rounded upper end 18 which is received in ahollow bottom end 20 of the upper leg member. As shown in FIG. 4, thepivotal connection of the leg members is accomplished by a shaft 22 ofthe upper member which projects through a bearing 24 in the lowermember. The retention of the lower leg in either of the two orientationsis accomplished by a spring 26 with an inner end portion 28 mounted onthe upper leg member, and an outer end portion 30 which is biasedagainst the lower leg member. The lower leg 16 has a protuberance 32 atits upper end. The outer end portion 30 of the spring extendssubstantially tangential to the path taken by the protuberance 32 as thelower leg pivots between the two positions to which it can be latched.

In the straight position of FIG. 1, the spring member presses againstthe protuberance 32 to urge the lower leg into the straight position..(In the nominally straight position of the leg, the length of the lowerleg 16 as defined by a line connecting the axis of shaft 22 and the toes54, is a few degrees past a position in line with the length of theupper leg 14, as defined by a line connecting the center 52 of the hipjoint and the axis of shaft 22.) The protuberance engages a stop 34 onthe upper leg that limits pivoting past the straight position, so theleg is retained in the straight position. In the bent position of FIG.2, the outer end portion 30 of the spring member presses against theprotuberance 32 to urge it even further past the bent configuration. Theprotuberance 32 then engages stop 36 on the upper leg member, whichprevents it from pivoting past the illustrated bent position.Accordingly, the lower leg member is retained in the bent position.

Both the upper and lower leg members 14, 16 are constructed of twomolded housing sections. The two sections 16A and 16B of the lower legmember are joined together prior to assembly of the entire leg. The twosections 14A and 14B of the upper leg member are joined together onlyafter the bearing 24 of the lower leg member has received a shaftportion 38 on upper housing portion 14A, and the spring member 26 hasbeen placed in the position shown in FIG. 4. Then, the other upperhousing section 14B is fastened in place, with the shaft portion 22therein inserted into the bearing 24. Thereafter, the outside of the legis finished and the leg is inserted in the torso of the doll.

The spring member 26 is a strip of spring material which has been bentto an angle of about 120 between the inner and outer end portions. Theinner end portion 28 extends largely along the length of the upper legmember, or in other words, with a major directional component along thelength of the upper member. The outer end portion 30 extends with amajor directional component perpendicular to the length of the upper legmember. The housing section 14A is constructed so that the spring membercan be inserted and held in place in a very simple manner. The housingsection has a pair of holding elements or members 40, 42 with steppedsides that form ledges 40L, 42L. The ledges 40L, 42L engage the innerend portion 28 of the spring member on opposite sides to retain it inposition. When the lower leg is in the straight position, with theprotuberance 32 against stop 34, the protuberance 32 and upper ledge 40Lboth urge the spring member in a direction toward the lower ledge 42L.Thus, the spring member 26 is supported at two positions on one of itssides (at ledge 40L and protuberance 32), and at one position (at 42L)on the opposite side, at a location between the two other positions.These three points of support form a stable supporting structure to holdthe spring member in position. An additional supporting member 44 isprovided on the upper leg housing for abutting the extreme inner end 28Eof the spring. The member 44 resists upward movement of the springmember against the upward bias provided by the protuberance 32 as itbears against the spring member.

In assembling the doll leg, the spring member 28 may be installed priorto the installation of the lower leg member -16 on the upper housingportion 14A. Even though the protuberance 32 of the lower leg member isnot present, the spring member is retained in place. This is because theouter end 30 of the spring member is made long enough to abut the stop36 on the upper housing portion. The stop 36 is located so that it holdsthe spring member in slight compression, such as by collapsing it to anangle such as 115 from its unstressed configuration where the inner andouter ends make an angle of 120. After the spring member has beeninstalled in the upper housing portion 14A, the lower 'leg member 16 isinstalled in position.

Installation of the lower leg member is easily accomplished by insertingthe shaft portion 38 partially into the bearing 24 in the lower legmember, with the lower leg member bent even further than the position ofFIG. 2 so that the protuberance 32 is forward of the stop 36. The lowerleg is then rotated toward a straight position, and when it passes thestop 36 the shaft portion 38 can be inserted all the way into thebearing portion 24. As the lower leg is being rotated from a positionforward of stop 36 toward a position between the stops 34 and 36, theprotuberance 32 deflects the outer end of spring 26 so that theprotuberance lies under the spring. This is possible because, as shownin FIG. 3, an outer edge 260 of the spring lies further out than theparting line 46 which is as far as the stop 36 projects.

After the lower leg 16 has been installed on upper housing section 14A,the other upper housing section 14B can be installed. As shown in FIG.4, the housing section 143 has three counter elements 40C, 42C, and 440which assume positions even with the sides of the elements 40, 42, 44 tohold the spring in place.

In order to provide a realistic appearance for the leg in both itsstraight and bent positions, the upper end 18 of the lower leg member isrounded to provide the appearance of a knee when the leg is bent. Theupper leg member has portions 48, 50 at either side that extend belowthe pivot point of the leg (which is along the axis of bearing 24), tosimplify the joints while concealing the pivoting apparatus from view.At the front of the upper leg member its lower edge extends almosthorizontally along the middle of the knee. However, at the rear of theleg, the lower edge of the upper member rises to a position above theaxis of pivoting, to receive the rounded upper portion of the lower legmember when it is in the bent position.

Thus, the invention provides a pivoting leg structure of close tonatural appearance, which pivots and retains two pivoting positions towhich it can be moved. The structure uses a minimum of simple parts,particularly the spring member 26 which, being constructed of steel orother rugged spring material, is not easily formed in a complex shape.However, the assembly of the leg can be rapidly and easily accomplishedfor low cost mass production of the doll.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. A doll appendage comprising:

a first appendage member;

a second appendage member having an end portion pivotally joined to saidfirst member to enable pivoting of said second member between first andsecond positions with respect to said first member;

a protuberance extending from said end portion of said second member;and

a spring member having an inner end portion mounted on said firstappendage member and an elongated outer end portion extendingsubstantially tangential to the path taken by said protuberance as saidsecond member pivots between said first and second positions.

2. The doll appendage described in claim 1 wherein:

said spring member comprises a strip of spring material =bent betweensaid inner and outer portions; and

said first appendage member includes a pair of holding members engagingopposite sides of said strip at different locations along the length ofsaid inner end portion, to urge said spring member to rotate in adirection to press its outer end portion against said protuberance.

3. The doll appendage described in claim 2 wherein:

said first appendage member includes an element for abutting the extremeinner end of said spring memher to limit movement of said spring memberaway from said second appendage member.

4. The doll appendage described in claim 1 wherein:

said first appendage member is elongated and includes two housingsections each extending substantially along the length of the member forjoining together to form the outside of said appendage member, a firstof said housing sections having means for pivotally engaging said secondappendage member;

said spring member comprises a strip of spring material of predeterminedwidth, said strip bent between said inner and outer end portions; and

said first housing section has a pair of holding members with ledgesspaced along said inner end portion of said spring member and located oneither side thereof to urge said outer end portion of said spring membertoward said protuberance, said holding members having portions forabutting one edge of said spring member so that the opposite edgeprojects past the boundaries of said first housing section, to enablespring deflection by said second appendage member as it is installed onsaid first housing section.

5. A leg for a doll comprising:

an upper leg member;

a lower leg member having an upper portion pivotally joined to saidupper leg member, to enable pivoting of said lower member between afirst position substantially aligned with said upper leg member and asecond position angled from said first position;

a protuberance extending from said upper portion of said lower legmember;

first and second stop means for engaging said protuberance to preventrotation of said lower leg member past said first and second positions,respectively; and

a spring member having an inner end portion mounted on said upper legmember and an elongated outer end portion for engaging said protuberanceto urge it toward said first and second stop means when said lower legmember is in said first and second positions, respectively.

6. The doll leg described in claim 5 wherein:

said upper portion of said lower leg member is rounded;

and

said upper member has a hollow lower portion for receiving said roundedupper portion of said 'leg member, said hollow lower portion havingwalls extending to a position below the pivot point of said members atthe forward part of the leg and only to a osition above the pivot pointof said leg members at the back of the leg.

7. The doll leg described in claim 5 wherein:

said spring member comprises a strip of spring material bent at an anglebetween said inner and outer end portions, said inner end portionetxending with a major directional component along the length of saidupper leg member and said outer end portion extending with a majordirectional component prependicular to the length of said upper legmember.

I8. The doll leg described in claim 7 wherein:

said upper leg member includes a plurality of spring holding elements,including elements abutting the sides of said spring member along saidinner end portion thereof and an element abutting the extreme end ofsaid inner end portion.

9. The doll leg described in claim 8 wherein:

said outer end portion of said spring has a length sufficient to bearagainst one of said stop members, to retain said spring member in placeprior to installation of said lower leg member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,835,076 5/1958 Weih 46163X2,966,762 1/1961 Hardaway et al. 46173X 3,277,601 10/1966 Lindsay et a1.46163X LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner D. L. WElNHOLD, JR., AssistantExaminer

